"Perdue is allowing our roads and bridges to bear the namesake of top campaign donors, political cronies, and co-conspirators in the scandals that led to Easley's felony conviction," Berger said Thursday.

Easley was convicted after he left office of a felony related to improper reporting by his campaign of a flight.

"Mr. Wilson was never indicted formally, not accused and not convicted of anything," Padgett said. "Our feeling is, we're recognizing him for what he did for transportation in our area."